 | Miscellaneous works, prose and poetical |  |
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THE DISCOVERY OF TOBACCO,
A Poem.
While some in swelling and in pompous strain,
The charms of freedom and man's rights maintain;
And with discernful scrutinizing glance,
Proclaim the glory of the sons of France:
Foretel of empires and of kings the fall,
And when fair freedom shall enlighten all—
The charms of freedom and man's rights maintain;
And with discernful scrutinizing glance,
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Foretel of empires and of kings the fall,
And when fair freedom shall enlighten all—
While some delight to swell the heroes fame,
Proclaim his virtues, and his honor'd name:
The glorious death the patriot-warrior found,
And lift the mantle from his bleeding wound;
With pomp to lead th' astonish'd heaver o'er,
The plains of Gallia stain'd with human gore;
Proclaim his virtues, and his honor'd name:
The glorious death the patriot-warrior found,
And lift the mantle from his bleeding wound;
With pomp to lead th' astonish'd heaver o'er,
The plains of Gallia stain'd with human gore;
Be it my task to sing Virginia's plant,
Its virtuous juice, its various use descant,
I choose a theme of many deeds the source,
Which soothes the mind by its assuaging force.
Here thought sublime pours not its course along,
Or flows with grandeur Homer's epic song;
Its virtuous juice, its various use descant,
I choose a theme of many deeds the source,
Which soothes the mind by its assuaging force.
Here thought sublime pours not its course along,
Or flows with grandeur Homer's epic song;
Verse sweet and smooth, here bears no soothing sway,
Nor steals the music of a Barlow's lay.
But cloth'd in simple, or in any dress,
Tobacco bids her bard, his thoughts express;
To hold her up, before the public eyes,
Not cloth'd in purple, but without disguise;
Nor steals the music of a Barlow's lay.
But cloth'd in simple, or in any dress,
Tobacco bids her bard, his thoughts express;
To hold her up, before the public eyes,
Not cloth'd in purple, but without disguise;
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For excellence needs not the aid of art
To win the friendship of the virtuous heart.
Segar! whose fragrant breath I now obtain,
O smile propitious on your poet's strain;
Who with red nose dost hover o'er my pen,
And whose kind essence from my mouth I send,
To win the friendship of the virtuous heart.
Segar! whose fragrant breath I now obtain,
O smile propitious on your poet's strain;
Who with red nose dost hover o'er my pen,
And whose kind essence from my mouth I send,
Do not to me your genial aid refuse,
But help the lisping of your youthful Muse.
Long have we join'd in friendship's tender flame,
Often in solitude your charms I claim.
Come, plodding from your ploughs, ye healthy swains,
While in your jaws the pigtail still remains,
But help the lisping of your youthful Muse.
Long have we join'd in friendship's tender flame,
Often in solitude your charms I claim.
Come, plodding from your ploughs, ye healthy swains,
While in your jaws the pigtail still remains,
Come squirting from your mouths the fluent juice,
Your quids still vigorous for their pliant use,
Come, help your bard to sing tobacco's praise,
And lead simplicity to deck his lays.
Ye band of snuffers with your boxes come,
The pinch just ready in each broad-fac'd thumb,
Your quids still vigorous for their pliant use,
Come, help your bard to sing tobacco's praise,
And lead simplicity to deck his lays.
Ye band of snuffers with your boxes come,
The pinch just ready in each broad-fac'd thumb,
Strew scented snuff the Muse's path along,
And with your presence animate the song;
The poet, tho' a stranger to your arts,
Knows the indulgence which your sex imparts.
Lastly, ye smokers, shew your honest face,
With tender friendship meet the wish'd embrace;
And with your presence animate the song;
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Knows the indulgence which your sex imparts.
Lastly, ye smokers, shew your honest face,
With tender friendship meet the wish'd embrace;
Ye who in pipes or in Segars delight,
With smiles inspire, while I your poet write,
With pipes well lighted puff your scent around,
And with your wit make laughters joyful sound.
The atmosphere with circling clouds o'erspread,
Whose fragrant odours play around my head.
With smiles inspire, while I your poet write,
With pipes well lighted puff your scent around,
And with your wit make laughters joyful sound.
The atmosphere with circling clouds o'erspread,
Whose fragrant odours play around my head.
Hail Christopher, whom genius bid explore
This happy land, this far extended shore,
Where then unfound by the decrees of taste,
Tobacco flourish'd in its primal state.
The precious plant with greenish hue serene,
Here breath'd its fragrance, here it blush'd unseen.
This happy land, this far extended shore,
Where then unfound by the decrees of taste,
Tobacco flourish'd in its primal state.
The precious plant with greenish hue serene,
Here breath'd its fragrance, here it blush'd unseen.
Untaught by art, it rear'd its goodly head,
And wide its foliage to the sun beams spread.
But when the swelling and propitious breeze.
Brought to these climes the sons of taste and ease;
When in the vale they rear'd the humble cot,
And in the cooling shades their cares forgot.
And wide its foliage to the sun beams spread.
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Brought to these climes the sons of taste and ease;
When in the vale they rear'd the humble cot,
And in the cooling shades their cares forgot.
Happy they wander'd o'er the cultur'd plain,
And thought no more of Britain's cruel reign;
Their joyful songs re'echo'd from the grove,
And pensive warbled the soft note of love.
The bleating flocks in numbers thriving laid,
Along the brooks, beneath the spreading shade.
And thought no more of Britain's cruel reign;
Their joyful songs re'echo'd from the grove,
And pensive warbled the soft note of love.
The bleating flocks in numbers thriving laid,
Along the brooks, beneath the spreading shade.
Tobacco then, man's curious optics drew,
Who silent ponder'd at the curious view;
Grand to his sight its beauteous form it rear'd,
Inviting to the taste the plant appear'd.
It's gentle fragrance rising sought his nose,
And soothing seem'd to whisper soft repose.
Led by the inclination's firm commands,
It's leaves he pluck'd by enterprising hands,
In closer view, then he the leaf survey'd,
And to his curious mouth the thing convey'd.
Who silent ponder'd at the curious view;
Grand to his sight its beauteous form it rear'd,
Inviting to the taste the plant appear'd.
It's gentle fragrance rising sought his nose,
And soothing seem'd to whisper soft repose.
Led by the inclination's firm commands,
It's leaves he pluck'd by enterprising hands,
In closer view, then he the leaf survey'd,
And to his curious mouth the thing convey'd.
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A while with wonder, and with fear he stood
In thoughtful silence and fix'd eyes he chew'd.
But soon the mouthful from his jaws he threw,
And pale with fear swift o'er the vallies flew,
He bent his eager way o'er hills thro' woods,
And headlong plung'd into the swelling floods.
In thoughtful silence and fix'd eyes he chew'd.
But soon the mouthful from his jaws he threw,
And pale with fear swift o'er the vallies flew,
He bent his eager way o'er hills thro' woods,
And headlong plung'd into the swelling floods.
But virtue always hath attractive charms,
And draws admirers to her lovely arms;
Sometimes at first her gentle voice they spurn,
But passion prompts the wanderer's return.
Thus fair tobacco first neglected lay,
'Till reason bid unruly man obey,
And draws admirers to her lovely arms;
Sometimes at first her gentle voice they spurn,
But passion prompts the wanderer's return.
Thus fair tobacco first neglected lay,
'Till reason bid unruly man obey,
With friendly kindness taught him what to eat
That dry'd tobacco was both good and sweet;
Indulgent Nature spread it o'er the plain
To comfort man and soothe the wretch's pain—
For this tobacco lends its smiling bloom,
Dispels dull sorrow, and dark anguish's gloom:
That dry'd tobacco was both good and sweet;
Indulgent Nature spread it o'er the plain
To comfort man and soothe the wretch's pain—
For this tobacco lends its smiling bloom,
Dispels dull sorrow, and dark anguish's gloom:
It is adapted both to mouth and nose,
And tickles fancy while it wafts repose;
It gives to genius persevering glow,
And bids with smoothness strains poetic flow.
It calms the aged in declining years,
And with soft friendship dries his falling tears.
And tickles fancy while it wafts repose;
It gives to genius persevering glow,
And bids with smoothness strains poetic flow.
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And with soft friendship dries his falling tears.
When these to man instructive reason taught,
Soon from the fields the sav'ry plant was brought,
Before the sun were spread its broken leaves,
No more to wave before the fanning breeze,
The powerful rays its pristine dye subdue,
From green it changes its once lively hue.
Soon from the fields the sav'ry plant was brought,
Before the sun were spread its broken leaves,
No more to wave before the fanning breeze,
The powerful rays its pristine dye subdue,
From green it changes its once lively hue.
Soon as the sun, the friendly foilage dries
Its darkish yellow strikes the gazing eyes.
Now man collects it in his cleanly stores,
Its virtuous essence and its use explores—
He forms it into portions for the jaws,
And with fond pleasure on the substance chews.
Its darkish yellow strikes the gazing eyes.
Now man collects it in his cleanly stores,
Its virtuous essence and its use explores—
He forms it into portions for the jaws,
And with fond pleasure on the substance chews.
Others to snuff the well dry'd leaves transpose,
And feed with friendship the perceptive nose;
Others to smoke the changing plant thought best,
And feel soft wonders stealing on the breast;
Now every bosom glows with secret joys,
And good tobacco every thought employs—
And feed with friendship the perceptive nose;
Others to smoke the changing plant thought best,
And feel soft wonders stealing on the breast;
Now every bosom glows with secret joys,
And good tobacco every thought employs—
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Exulting high they raise the joyful song,
While thankful praises the loud strains prolong.
This plant e'er since has held its peaceful reign;
And still remains the soothing friend of pain;
Rapine and passion shun tobacco's face,
But virtue seeks its kind and sweet embrace.
While thankful praises the loud strains prolong.
This plant e'er since has held its peaceful reign;
And still remains the soothing friend of pain;
Rapine and passion shun tobacco's face,
But virtue seeks its kind and sweet embrace.
It calms the tumult of the angry soul,
Ev'n sometimes reason stoops to its controul .
“The man who not in pouch tobacco keeps,
“Nor hath not pipes laid up in num'rous heaps;
“Is led by rapine and by wrath's controul,
“Dark as Erebus, is his cruel soul—
Ev'n sometimes reason stoops to its controul .
“The man who not in pouch tobacco keeps,
“Nor hath not pipes laid up in num'rous heaps;
“Is led by rapine and by wrath's controul,
“Dark as Erebus, is his cruel soul—
“In such a man my friend put not thy trust,
“Thousands he'll sacrifice to inward lust,”
But seek the man who keeps the goodly quid,
In neat array beneath the shining lid:
The man whose nose is ting'd with fragrant snuff,
And who delights tobacco's smoke to puff.
“Thousands he'll sacrifice to inward lust,”
But seek the man who keeps the goodly quid,
In neat array beneath the shining lid:
The man whose nose is ting'd with fragrant snuff,
And who delights tobacco's smoke to puff.
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This is the man who sympathising hears,
To tales of sorrow bends his list'ning ears;
Tobacco's juice has sought his feeling mind,
And kindled charity for all mankind—
When rising youth rough science paths explore,
When learning's pages slow they ponder o'er:
To tales of sorrow bends his list'ning ears;
Tobacco's juice has sought his feeling mind,
And kindled charity for all mankind—
When rising youth rough science paths explore,
When learning's pages slow they ponder o'er:
When the fair scenes which histories convey
With anxious eyes delighted they survey:
When pleas'd they strive the Muse's walks to tread,
And thoughtfully incline their studious head;
Tobacco in deep thought adds pleasure's glow
And bids more free their young ideas flow;
With anxious eyes delighted they survey:
When pleas'd they strive the Muse's walks to tread,
And thoughtfully incline their studious head;
Tobacco in deep thought adds pleasure's glow
And bids more free their young ideas flow;
It animation in their breasts inspires,
And from soft slumbers wakes poetic fires;
Puff'd from their mouths it gives them thought profound,
In circles rising, throws its scent around.
When solitude her dark grey mantle throws,
And lulls the world in quiet's calm repose,
And from soft slumbers wakes poetic fires;
Puff'd from their mouths it gives them thought profound,
In circles rising, throws its scent around.
When solitude her dark grey mantle throws,
And lulls the world in quiet's calm repose,
A solemn and a gloomy stillness reigns,
The voice of Nature's ceas'd upon the plains.
By solitude's surrounding scene oppress'd
A pensive melancholy clouds my breast;
To sooth my grief no fav'rite friend is nigh,
No tender accents to suppress my sigh,
The voice of Nature's ceas'd upon the plains.
By solitude's surrounding scene oppress'd
A pensive melancholy clouds my breast;
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No tender accents to suppress my sigh,
For none the solitary bard can claim,
None can he call by that delightful name.
The kind Segar with mournful phiz I light,
And bid its smoke salute the shades of night;
Soon its sweet breath slow rising in the air,
Regales my senses and relieves my care;
None can he call by that delightful name.
The kind Segar with mournful phiz I light,
And bid its smoke salute the shades of night;
Soon its sweet breath slow rising in the air,
Regales my senses and relieves my care;
Puff after puff in quick succession flow,
Composure soon supplies the place of woe;
Again with joy, I rear my drooping head,
And soft repose invites me to her bed,
With musing glow upon her breast I leap,
And sink inraptured in the arms of sleep.
Composure soon supplies the place of woe;
Again with joy, I rear my drooping head,
And soft repose invites me to her bed,
With musing glow upon her breast I leap,
And sink inraptured in the arms of sleep.
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